Staff Blog: Chris Gautz - Crain's Detroit Businesshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/section/blog015/chris-gautz
Lansing and Michigan State Governmenten-usTue, 31 Mar 2015 18:02:59 EDT10Staff Blog: Chris Gautz - Crain's Detroit Business14416http://www.crainsdetroit.com/section/blog015/chris-gautz
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/assets/cd/cdb_logo_rss.gifDepression-era governor wins another 4 years on Michigan Capitol rotunda wallhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141107/BLOG015/141109887/depression-era-governor-wins-another-4-years-on-michigan-capitol
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141107/BLOG015/141109887/depression-era-governor-wins-another-4-years-on-michigan-capitolFri, 7 Nov 2014 12:26:27 EDTChris Gautz - Michigan Gov. Wilbur Brucker was granted another four-year term by voters from across the state Tuesday. Brucker, who died in 1968, was unavailable for comment. The re-election of Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday not only secured his position though 2018, but also the position of Brucker's portrait on the third floor of the Capitol rotunda. When a governor leaves office, his or her portrait is hung in the Capitol rotunda on the second and third floors. But there are only so many spaces. If former]]>Beyond Election Day: How state House, Senate leadership votes may swinghttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141104/BLOG015/141109965/beyond-election-day-how-state-house-senate-leadership-votes-may-swing
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141104/BLOG015/141109965/beyond-election-day-how-state-house-senate-leadership-votes-may-swingTue, 4 Nov 2014 05:00:00 EDTChris Gautz - Millions have been spent, countless hours of television ads have aired, and at the end of today, it will all be over. It’s Election Day. Michigan voters are heading to the polls today to decide the race for governor, U.S. Senate, Attorney General, Secretary of State, the Supreme Court, as well as races for U.S. House, state House and Senate, state board of education, and university boards. This is not to mention local races, millage requests and the two statewide wolf hunting measures as]]>Parties eye magic number to flip Michigan House, U.S. Senatehttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141031/BLOG015/141039938/parties-eye-magic-number-to-flip-michigan-house-u-s-senate
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141031/BLOG015/141039938/parties-eye-magic-number-to-flip-michigan-house-u-s-senateFri, 31 Oct 2014 14:22:12 EDTDoes 2016 ballot proposal have no-fault motive?http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141026/BLOG015/310269951/does-2016-ballot-proposal-have-no-fault-motive
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141026/BLOG015/310269951/does-2016-ballot-proposal-have-no-fault-motiveSun, 26 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDTA new career path, but always a journalist at hearthttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141022/BLOG015/141029934/a-new-career-path-but-always-a-journalist-at-heart
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141022/BLOG015/141029934/a-new-career-path-but-always-a-journalist-at-heartWed, 22 Oct 2014 17:33:10 EDTChris Gautz - Last month was the 16th anniversary of when the first story I ever wrote appeared in a daily newspaper. Next month, I will write my last. On Nov. 10, I will begin a new career path in my life, taking a job as the public information officer for the Michigan Department of Corrections. It's a path I never envisioned for myself, but one that I look forward to and am excited about. It reminded me of a quote I came across recently from the late author Joseph Campbell. "We must be willing to let go of ]]>As election nears, big names stump for state candidateshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141012/BLOG015/310129972/as-election-nears-big-names-stump-for-state-candidates
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141012/BLOG015/310129972/as-election-nears-big-names-stump-for-state-candidatesSun, 12 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDTA Secret Service lapse with a Michigan connection: Obama security let senator mingle with presidenthttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141003/BLOG015/141009903/a-secret-service-lapse-with-a-michigan-connection-obama-security-let
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20141003/BLOG015/141009903/a-secret-service-lapse-with-a-michigan-connection-obama-security-letFri, 3 Oct 2014 12:42:34 EDTChris Gautz - All week long, stories have been surfacing about the blunders and security lapses by the U.S. Secret Service, which ultimately led to the resignation of its director, Julia Pierson, on Wednesday. Among the stories: It took four days for agents to realize the White House had been fired upon; a knife-wielding man running into the White House; and an armed man with a criminal record getting onto an elevator with President Barack Obama. None of these stories made the agency look good. And here's]]>McLaren bill opposition leaves few optionshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140928/BLOG015/309289995/mclaren-bill-opposition-leaves-few-options
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140928/BLOG015/309289995/mclaren-bill-opposition-leaves-few-optionsSun, 28 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDTState car czar Francis on Cadillac's move to New York: It's not driving me crazy http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140924/BLOG015/140929917/state-car-czar-francis-on-cadillacs-move-to-new-york-its-not-driving
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140924/BLOG015/140929917/state-car-czar-francis-on-cadillacs-move-to-new-york-its-not-drivingWed, 24 Sep 2014 19:48:18 EDTChris Gautz - The state’s car czar is downplaying the move by General Motors Co. to spin its Cadillac brand into a separate business unit and move its global headquarters to New York City.“This is not a massive thing,” said Nigel Francis, senior automotive adviser for the state of Michigan and a senior vice president at the Michigan Economic Development Corp. “To me, it’s not a big deal.”In all, about 50 jobs will leave the state next year when Cadillac moves its sales and ]]>'Right-to-try' law would give patients access to trial drugshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140921/BLOG015/309219988/right-to-try-law-would-give-patients-access-to-trial-drugs
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140921/BLOG015/309219988/right-to-try-law-would-give-patients-access-to-trial-drugsSun, 21 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDTMichigan is poised to become the fourth state to enact a "right-to-try" law that would allow terminally ill patients access to experimental medicines. Senate Bill 991, sponsored by Sen. John Pappageorge, R-Troy, is on the House floor and could come to a vote this week. Pappageorge said he became interested in the idea after speaking with Terry Kalley, managing director of Bloomfield Hills-based Global Logistics Strategies, whose wife, Arlene, has stage-four breast cancer. "Denying a person the]]>4 out of 5 Midwest governors appreciate Snyder's go-to jokeshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140909/BLOG015/140909866/4-out-of-5-midwest-governors-appreciate-snyders-go-to-jokes
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140909/BLOG015/140909866/4-out-of-5-midwest-governors-appreciate-snyders-go-to-jokesTue, 9 Sep 2014 03:01:00 EDTChris Gautz - Of all the funny things you can say about the Great Lakes, Gov. Rick Snyder knows both of them. He has two “go-to” jokes when it comes to Michigan Lakes. (Stay tuned for the punch lines below.) To reporters who have heard them for the umpteenth time, you just endure them, and wait for the portion of the speech you will actually be writing about. But to a crowd of Japanese business leaders and government officials Monday, it was a safe bet this would be new material to them, so]]>MSHDA resignation likely to delay EB-5 centerhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140907/BLOG015/309079996/mshda-resignation-likely-to-delay-eb-5-center
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140907/BLOG015/309079996/mshda-resignation-likely-to-delay-eb-5-centerSun, 7 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDTMEDC on the hunt to spread the word about great outdoorshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140831/BLOG015/308319987/medc-on-the-hunt-to-spread-the-word-about-great-outdoors
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140831/BLOG015/308319987/medc-on-the-hunt-to-spread-the-word-about-great-outdoorsSun, 31 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDTThe Michigan Economic Development Corp. is using its marketing expertise, advertising budget and staff to reach out to hunters and anglers across the country — including metro Detroit — as a new way to increase tourism and generate economic activity."Detroit is a great example with an urban setting, but there are these opportunities for fishing," said Michelle Grinnell, public relations manager for the MEDC. "It's about reminding folks that urban areas also have these outdoor]]>Brogan and Martin Waymire tout 'merger of talents' to best serve clientshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140827/BLOG015/140829848/brogan-and-martin-waymire-tout-merger-of-talents-to-best-serve
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140827/BLOG015/140829848/brogan-and-martin-waymire-tout-merger-of-talents-to-best-serveWed, 27 Aug 2014 14:57:26 EDTLawmaker to-dos: Rights, roads, taxes, wolveshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140824/BLOG015/308249994/lawmaker-to-dos-rights-roads-taxes-wolves
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140824/BLOG015/308249994/lawmaker-to-dos-rights-roads-taxes-wolvesSun, 24 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDTHow Detroit businesses can prepare for the next big stormhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140820/BLOG015/140829988/how-detroit-businesses-can-prepare-for-the-next-big-storm
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140820/BLOG015/140829988/how-detroit-businesses-can-prepare-for-the-next-big-stormWed, 20 Aug 2014 12:59:41 EDTChris Gautz - As business owners and residents in metro Detroit continue their cleanup efforts from last week’s flood, state and local officials say climate change will only mean more frequent storms of such size. In a conference call Wednesday, Jeff Andresen, climatologist for the state of Michigan, said as you look over the past 150 years of records, Michigan has become warmer and wetter, especially in the past few decades. “We have seen an increase in the number of extreme events,” he]]>Snyder: Report losses, keep receiptshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140819/BLOG015/140819807/snyder-report-losses-keep-receipts
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140819/BLOG015/140819807/snyder-report-losses-keep-receiptsTue, 19 Aug 2014 17:50:40 EDTState lawmaker's primary loss could hurt gay rights efforthttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140806/BLOG015/140809912/state-lawmakers-primary-loss-could-hurt-gay-rights-effort
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140806/BLOG015/140809912/state-lawmakers-primary-loss-could-hurt-gay-rights-effortWed, 6 Aug 2014 13:24:26 EDTSchool budgets absorb impact of minimum wagehttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140803/BLOG015/308039992/school-budgets-absorb-impact-of-minimum-wage
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140803/BLOG015/308039992/school-budgets-absorb-impact-of-minimum-wageSun, 3 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDTOn Sept. 1, the state's minimum wage will rise to $8.15 an hour from $7.40. But it's not just businesses that will pay more to employees. Some colleges and universities will feel hits to their budgets that in a few cases will cost several hundred thousand dollars, which they plan to absorb within the budgets of the departments that have student workers. And they don't expect to reduce the hours students work or how many students they employ."We find that student employment helps with retention]]>Schauer's plan criticized for lack of detailshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140803/BLOG015/308039979/schauers-plan-criticized-for-lack-of-details
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140803/BLOG015/308039979/schauers-plan-criticized-for-lack-of-detailsSun, 3 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDTFor months, Republicans have been dinging Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer for not having a plan for what he would do as governor, so last week, he delivered one. It was a plan he promised would bring "tens of thousands of jobs" to Michigan. But before there was time to finish leafing through the glossy, 24-page booklet, Republicans panned Schauer's plan as "empty rhetoric," as Emily Benavides, communications director for Gov. Rick Snyder's re-election campaign put it. The]]>When money talks in elections, sometimes it says, 'Help!'http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140731/BLOG015/140739970/when-money-talks-in-elections-sometimes-it-says-help
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140731/BLOG015/140739970/when-money-talks-in-elections-sometimes-it-says-helpThu, 31 Jul 2014 03:01:00 EDTState board keeps minimum wage proposal off ballothttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140727/BLOG015/307279992/state-board-keeps-minimum-wage-proposal-off-ballot
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140727/BLOG015/307279992/state-board-keeps-minimum-wage-proposal-off-ballotSun, 27 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDTFrom minimum wage fight to Wayne County election challenge, deadlines matterhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140725/BLOG015/140729875/from-minimum-wage-fight-to-wayne-county-election-challenge-deadlines
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140725/BLOG015/140729875/from-minimum-wage-fight-to-wayne-county-election-challenge-deadlinesFri, 25 Jul 2014 12:02:00 EDTChris Gautz - Deadlines matter. That’s the argument from editors everywhere to their procrastinating reporters. And in Wayne County and in Lansing this week, one attorney was on both sides of a deadline — and both times came out on top for his clients. The importance of deadlines was the argument from the group Raise Michigan this week when its proposal to increase the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour was kept off the November ballot after the Board of State Canvassers agreed to look]]>Road funding at play in MacMaster-Schmidt racehttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140720/BLOG015/307209998/road-funding-at-play-in-macmaster-schmidt-race
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140720/BLOG015/307209998/road-funding-at-play-in-macmaster-schmidt-raceSun, 20 Jul 2014 07:30:00 EDTChris Gautz - Easily the most interesting and watched state Senate primary outside of Southeast Michigan is one taking place among the cherry trees in northern Michigan. But there's more than one reason that people are watching this faceoff between state Reps. Greg MacMaster, R-Kewadin, and Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City. It's not just about who will serve as the next state senator for the 37th District, but whether the outcome will serve as a harbinger of a major deal on road funding in the Legislature. As]]>Next battle in minimum wage fight set for Thursday in Lansinghttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140718/BLOG015/140719829/next-battle-in-minimum-wage-fight-set-for-thursday-in-lansing
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140718/BLOG015/140719829/next-battle-in-minimum-wage-fight-set-for-thursday-in-lansingFri, 18 Jul 2014 13:49:53 EDTRepublicans again take partisan path on roadshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140706/BLOG015/307069982/republicans-again-take-partisan-path-on-roads
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140706/BLOG015/307069982/republicans-again-take-partisan-path-on-roadsSun, 6 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDTBiz split on changes to high school standardshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140629/BLOG015/306299958/biz-split-on-changes-to-high-school-standards
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140629/BLOG015/306299958/biz-split-on-changes-to-high-school-standardsSun, 29 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDTCeremony just part of 'grand bargain' work; M-1 on trackhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140622/BLOG015/306229982/ceremony-just-part-of-grand-bargain-work-m-1-on-track
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140622/BLOG015/306229982/ceremony-just-part-of-grand-bargain-work-m-1-on-trackSun, 22 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDTSpin, blame follow inaction on roads fundinghttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140615/BLOG015/306159995/spin-blame-follow-inaction-on-roads-funding
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140615/BLOG015/306159995/spin-blame-follow-inaction-on-roads-fundingSun, 15 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDTWage hike maneuver a chess game to its architecthttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140601/BLOG015/306019932/wage-hike-maneuver-a-chess-game-to-its-architect
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140601/BLOG015/306019932/wage-hike-maneuver-a-chess-game-to-its-architectSun, 1 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDTChris Gautz - Depending on your political persuasion, it was either a stroke of genius or a disingenuous political maneuver to prevent a minimum wage increase from making it to the ballot. But the man who figured out how to do it says it has more to do with the principle of the Legislature being empowered — to legislate. Bob LaBrant, senior counsel for the Lansing-based public policy firm Sterling Corp., came up with the idea to thwart the Raise Michigan ballot proposal, which would have increased ]]>Former Indiana governor – a Snyder pal – to offer tips on state growthhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140525/BLOG015/305259996/former-indiana-governor-a-snyder-pal-8211-to-offer-tips-on-state
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140525/BLOG015/305259996/former-indiana-governor-a-snyder-pal-8211-to-offer-tips-on-stateSun, 25 May 2014 08:00:00 EDTWhen Purdue University President Mitch Daniels takes the stage Thursday afternoon at the Mackinac Policy Conference, attendees can expect to hear how a state can configure itself for economic growth and upward mobility. Daniels has some experience at that, as the former two-term Republican governor of Indiana. He left office in 2013 and moved right away into his new job at Purdue. So as part of his keynote address at the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual event, Daniels said he also expects to]]>Livonia lawmaker not looking for partisan points on Detroit billshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140511/BLOG015/305119991/livonia-lawmaker-not-looking-for-partisan-points-on-detroit-bills
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140511/BLOG015/305119991/livonia-lawmaker-not-looking-for-partisan-points-on-detroit-billsSun, 11 May 2014 08:00:00 EDTThe state's involvement in helping Detroit exit from bankruptcy has been led for months behind the scenes by an unlikely figure — state Rep. John Walsh. So why is a Republican from Livonia so deeply involved in this process? He did not grab the short straw, he guarantees. "I raised my hand," Walsh said. "I've had a long affinity for the city. It was a natural for me to step up and try to work on this package. It not only affects Detroit, but my district and the entire state." Walsh, 51,]]>Proposed Detroit bankruptcy bill would prohibit DIA from renewing millagehttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140509/BLOG015/140509823/proposed-detroit-bankruptcy-bill-would-prohibit-dia-from-renewing
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140509/BLOG015/140509823/proposed-detroit-bankruptcy-bill-would-prohibit-dia-from-renewingFri, 9 May 2014 14:33:26 EDTPlenty of anxiety, blame to go around when it comes to college tuition, report findshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140508/BLOG015/140509851/plenty-of-anxiety-blame-to-go-around-when-it-comes-to-college
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140508/BLOG015/140509851/plenty-of-anxiety-blame-to-go-around-when-it-comes-to-collegeThu, 8 May 2014 13:06:24 EDTPoll: OK, already, Michigan residents will help pay to fix the potholes and bridgeshttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140507/BLOG015/140509880/poll-ok-already-michigan-residents-will-help-pay-to-fix-the-potholes
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140507/BLOG015/140509880/poll-ok-already-michigan-residents-will-help-pay-to-fix-the-potholesWed, 7 May 2014 03:01:00 EDTChris Gautz - In poll after poll on transportation funding, the outcome is almost always the same. People want to see Michigan's crumbling roads fixed, but they don't want to pay more to fix them. But a new report released Tuesday by the Center for Michigan found something different. When asked if people would be willing to pay more in taxes for roads, 58 percent said they would, while 39 percent would not. But overall, respondents are opposed to tax increases, with 43 percent saying their advice to]]>Word 'tax' a hurdle for PPT reform ballot proposalhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140504/BLOG015/305049996/word-tax-a-hurdle-for-ppt-reform-ballot-proposal
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140504/BLOG015/305049996/word-tax-a-hurdle-for-ppt-reform-ballot-proposalSun, 4 May 2014 08:00:00 EDTNew Senate bill proposes minimum-wage alternativehttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140427/BLOG015/304279983/new-senate-bill-proposes-minimum-wage-alternative
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140427/BLOG015/304279983/new-senate-bill-proposes-minimum-wage-alternativeSun, 27 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDTLambert Edwards expands public affairs practice with Sterling acquistionhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140424/BLOG015/140429913/lambert-edwards-expands-public-affairs-practice-with-sterling
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140424/BLOG015/140429913/lambert-edwards-expands-public-affairs-practice-with-sterlingThu, 24 Apr 2014 13:52:11 EDTLawmakers lay the groundwork for bankruptcy planhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140420/BLOG015/304209983/lawmakers-lay-the-groundwork-for-bankruptcy-plan
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140420/BLOG015/304209983/lawmakers-lay-the-groundwork-for-bankruptcy-planSun, 20 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDTWorkshop offers export controls updates, training http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140418/BLOG015/140419836/workshop-offers-export-controls-updates-training
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140418/BLOG015/140419836/workshop-offers-export-controls-updates-trainingFri, 18 Apr 2014 13:54:10 EDTBusiness Leaders for Michigan calls on state to compete, invest, growhttp://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140403/BLOG015/140409937/business-leaders-for-michigan-calls-on-state-to-compete-invest-grow
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140403/BLOG015/140409937/business-leaders-for-michigan-calls-on-state-to-compete-invest-growThu, 3 Apr 2014 14:29:18 EDT